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Transplant May Boost Survival in Obese Kidney Failure Patients

Transplant May Boost Survival in Obese Kidney Failure Patients

THURSDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- A kidney transplant can
prolong the lives of most obese kidney failure patients, a new
study suggests.

The study authors said they hope their findings improve obese
patients' chances of being selected for a kidney transplant.

For the study, Dr. John Gill, of the University of British
Columbia in Vancouver, and colleagues analyzed data from more than
208,000 kidney failure patients who received kidney transplants in
the United States between 1995 and 2007. The patients were grouped
by body-mass index (BMI), which is a measurement of body fat based
on height and weight. People with a BMI of 30 or higher are
considered obese, and a BMI of 40 or higher is considered extremely
obese.

The researchers found that patients with a BMI of 30 to 39
gained a similar survival advantage from kidney transplantation as
non-obese patients, which was a 66 percent lower risk of dying
during the first year after the transplant.

Patients with a BMI of 40 or higher had a lower survival
advantage after a kidney transplant (a 48 percent reduced risk of
dying within one year), and it was unclear whether black patients
with a BMI of 40 or higher gained any survival advantage.

Among transplant recipients, obese people were more likely than
non-obese people to die early, the investigators found. However,
the survival differences between obese and non-obese patients were
not as great when transplants involved kidneys from live donors,
according to the study, which was published in the current issue of
the
American Journal of Transplantation.

"Our study shows that obese patients derive a survival advantage from transplantation, and obesity should not exclude patients from consideration of transplantation," study author Gill said in a journal news release.

"Also, improved early post-transplant care may help reduce the early risk of death in obese patients, and living donor transplantation may be a useful strategy to mitigate the risks of transplantation in obese transplant candidates," he added.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.